The Red Deer Optimist Chiefs are red hot at the Mac’s Midget AAA World Invitational Tournament.
Red Deer edged out the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds 5-4 in game 2 of the annual holiday event.
With the win Friday, Red Deer improved to 2-0 and will play twice more on the weekend to finish round robin play.
In the 5-4 victory, Daylan Kuefler and Brendan McBride opened the scoring for the Optimist Chiefs. Red Deer forward Tristian Lambert added a second-period tally, but the Thunderbirds piled in three goals to take a 4-3 advantage after 40 minutes.
Brett Meerman tied the game at four midway through the third and Lambert notched his second of the afternoon to power Red Deer to the win. Lambert’s two-goal game earned him star of the game. Bretton Park stopped 17 shots to earn the win in the Red Deer net.
Red Deer will play the Calgary Northstars Saturday afternoon before wrapping up round-robin play Sunday against the Notre Dame Hounds.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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